Drawer locking system

Abstract

A lock system for an article of furniture such as a cabinet or pedestal having one or more drawers or doors includes a lock bar movable between locked and unlocked positions responsive to an actuator and operating mechanism. The actuator and operating mechanism includes a lead screw which provides front-rear movement of a slider to which a toothed rack is mounted, in response to key operation of the lock mechanism by an operator. A toothed pinion is engaged with the toothed rack, and is rotatable in response to the front-rear movement of the rack. A pair of shafts are mounted to and rotatable with the pinion, extending between the pinion and a pair of levers mounted one on each side of the cabinet. Each lever is pivotably mounted, and includes an arm for lifting and lowering the lock bar in response to rotation of the shaft.

I claim: 
     
       1. A lock system for an article of furniture having a front, a back and a pair of spaced sides, at least one movable component mounted to the article of furniture for movement between an open position and a closed position, and a vertically movable lock member selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock system comprising: a rotatable operator-controlled actuator member mounted toward the front of the article of furniture;   a pivotable lifting and lowering mechanism interconnected with the vertically movable lock member for moving the lock member between its drawer locked and drawer unlocked positions; and   an operating mechanism interposed between the actuator member and the lifting and lowering mechanism for vertically moving the lifting and lowering mechanism in response to rotation of the actuator member, the operating mechanism including a first member interconnected with the actuator member, and an arrangement for converting rotation of the actuator member into linear movement of the first member along a front-rear axis;   wherein the lifting and lowering mechanism is interconnected with the first member and is pivotable in response to the front-rear linear movement of the first member to provide vertical movement of the locking member between its locked and unlocked positions.   
     
     
       2. The lock system of claim 1, wherein the arrangement for converting rotation of the actuator member into linear movement of the first member along a front-rear axis comprises a lead screw member interposed between the actuator member and the first member. 
     
     
       3. The lock system of claim 2, further comprising a barrel within which the actuator member is mounted for rotation, the barrel defining an open inner end, and wherein the lead screw member includes a head disposed within the barrel for mounting the lead screw member to the barrel. 
     
     
       4. The lock system of claim 3, further comprising a key shaft mounted between and interconnecting the actuator member and the head of the lead screw member for imparting rotation to the lead screw member in response to rotation of the actuator member. 
     
     
       5. The lock system of claim 2, wherein the first member includes a threaded socket within which the threaded portion of the lead screw member is received, wherein linear front-rear movement of the first member is imparted in response to movement of the socket upon rotation of the lead screw member. 
     
     
       6. The lock system of claim 5, further comprising: a toothed rack member mounted to the socket for front-rear movement along with the socket in response to rotation of the lead screw member;   a rotatable toothed pinion, wherein the teeth of the pinion mesh with the teeth of the toothed rack, whereby rotation is imparted to the pinion in response to front-rear movement of the toothed rack; and   a shaft extending between and interconnecting the pinion and the lifting and lowering mechanism.   
     
     
       7. The lock system of claim 2, wherein the lifting and lowering mechanism comprises a lever pivotable in response to rotation of a shaft associated with the operating mechanism. 
     
     
       8. The lock system of claim 7, further comprising a panel located within the interior of the article of furniture adjacent one of its sides, wherein the lock member comprises a lock bar having one of its surfaces adjacent to and facing the panel, and further comprising a locking stud mounted to the lock bar and extending through a slot formed in the panel for movably mounting the lock bar to the panel, and wherein the lever is mounted for pivoting movement to the panel. 
     
     
       9. A lock system for an article of furniture having a front, a back and a pair of spaced sides, and at least one movable component mounted to the article of furniture for movement between an open position and a closed position, comprising: a panel mounted adjacent the movable component, the panel including an opening and a first traverse slot extending therefrom;   a movable lock bar located adjacent the panel and including a portion located within the panel opening having a second transverse slot, wherein the lock bar is selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position for selectively locking and unlocking the movable component when in its closed position;   a lever interposed between the panel and the lock bar, wherein the lever includes a first pin extending into the first slot in the panel for pivotably mounting the lever to the panel, the first pin defining the pivot axis of the lever, and a second pin extending into the second slot in the lock bar for mounting the lever to the lock bar, wherein pivoting movement of the lever causes movement of the lock bar between its locked and unlocked positions; and   an operator-controlled actuator and operating mechanism interconnected with the lever for selectively imparting pivoting movement to the lever.   
     
     
       10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second slots are substantially parallel and are both oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lock bar. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 9, wherein the second slot opens onto an edge of the lock bar, and wherein the first and second slots open toward each other. 
     
     
       12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second slot opens onto an edge of the lock bar, and wherein the lever includes an enlarged head portion which engages a surface of the lock bar for retaining the lever in engagement with the lock bar. 
     
     
       13. A method of mounting a pivotable lever of a locking mechanism to an article of furniture, the article of furniture having a movable lock bar selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, comprising the steps of: mounting a panel adjacent a movable component of the article of furniture, the panel including an opening and a transverse slot extending from the opening;   locating the lock bar adjacent the panel such that a portion of the lock bar extends into the panel opening;   forming a transverse slot in the lock bar;   pivotably mounting a lever to the panel by engaging a first pin associated with the lever into the panel slot; and   engaging the lever with the lock bar by engaging a second pin associate with the lever with the lock bar slot.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of forming a slot in the lock bar comprises forming the lock bar slot such that it extends inwardly from an edge of the lock bar and opens in a direction facing the opening of the panel slot into the panel opening. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing an enlarged head on the second pin of the lever for engaging a surface of the lock bar to retain the lever in engagement with the lock bar. 
     
     
       16. A lock system for an article of furniture having a front, a back and a pair of spaced sides, at least one movable component mounted to the article of furniture for movement between an open position and a closed position, and a movable lock bar selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock system comprising: a rotatable operator-controlled actuator member mounted toward the front of the article of furniture;   an axially extending shaft defining first and second ends;   a lever interconnected with the first end of the shaft and with the movable lock bar; and   an operating mechanism interconnected with the second end of the shaft and with the actuator member for imparting pivoting movement to the shaft in response to operator-controlled rotation of the actuator member, the operating mechanism including a first member movable in a front-rear direction in response to rotation of the actuator member, and a pivotable second member, to which the second end of the shaft is mounted, wherein the pivotable second member is pivotably movable in response to front-rear movement of the first member.